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Grand Rapids Fire Fighters Union
TOTAL AUTHORIZED STRENGTH HITS 500
Okay, not really but does it really matter. For the past year plus, and if history predicts the future this will continue, management has not operated inside their total authorized strength of 217. In June of 2008 the city commission in a 5-2 vote elected to drop our total authorized strength (TAS) from 217 to 210. At the time of the vote we counted that we were running with a total of 200. While this may not seem like a big deal, the very fact the we are down almost 20 people affects greatly the daily staffing creating a need for callbacks that are blamed on you dirty union firefighters taking sick leave and last minute vacations. When the question to the Fire Chief at a commission meeting about vacation season coming was asked, the assistant city manager had the audacity to turn around and say "well Joe, firefighters just get sicker in June don't they". The level of contempt for you at city hall saddens me.
Although the city is going to hire 12 new people, that will hit the new number for about 5 seconds until the next people retire. We will always be chasing our tail on this since our leaders choose not to be proactive. I have been told by some city leaders that our own members feel that this is ok.I gotta tell you I have never heard that from any of you. Just keep doing your best out there, those of us who fight along side you and for you appreciate your hard work.
We continue to press our leaders on staffing and are met again with all the same ol' answers, which takes us into the bargaining agreement.
The city has chosen to allow talks to break down and file for Act 312 in the case of police, and now, Fire. Your bargaining team worked very hard and continues too, to bring about a fair and equitable contract. It appears there is a larger scheme here. Allow me please to speculate on my point of view. Our city leaders refuse to ask for money from the citizens to run their growing city without concessions. However, the concessions are so grossly out of line, with anything short of rolling the clock back 20 years, they knew we could not achieve these. From this point the city files for 312 so they will let someone else make their decisions for them. When this decision comes back they can wring their hands and cry it's that "damn 312" so we must tax you for these overly compensated public employees. Now the city can go to their representatives and say 312 is not working. Purely hypothetical of course.
Not being willing to bargain a FAIR contract to all does not sound like strong leadership, but merely a coward's way of passing the blame. A way to say aw gee I tried so please keep me employed or re-elect me. Not all at city hall have taken this stance, but enough to make a difference have.
Your Union has had a fairly busy arbitration schedule in which we have addressed and are waiting for decisions on issues such as Sick Leave, 457 (design), and Discipline. One fact that came out in unchallenged testimony in the discipline case was an item I was not aware of. While I have been doing union work for a number of years I was not aware of this and I apologize. It appears that a representative was having a conversation with a subordinate and challenged that person for "running to the Union". This ladies and gentlemen is an Unfair Labor Practice. Superiors cannot intimidate, berate, or threaten you from utilizing the Union you are members of. If this ever happens to you call us.
I myself am rarely one to preach on elections, most people have they're own opinions and don't take kindly to this. What I will say is, regardless of who you will cast your ballot for this November; please take the time to research all your candidates from local to nationally. We are in a time and an economy where government at all levels affects our daily lives and livelihood. As public servants one stroke of a pen in Lansing or Washington, can add or remove the things you dearly hold to such as wages, hours, and working conditions. Please choose carefully.
All of you in this fine Union do your best against what are additionally trying circumstances and a leadership serving their own interests, and you do well. Please continue to stand strong as we all fight together for safety and fairness. Your Union leadership admires and respects you and that is why we fight for you.
Sincerely,
Joe Dubay
President
Horse Stories...and more Grand Rapids Fire Department History #20
1921 - Grand Rapids Newspaper Article
With the arrival recently of the motor pumper at Engine House #7, Grand Rapids passed from the list of
those cities classed as being partially motorized into the category of completely motorized firefighting
apparatus. Whether elimination of the last horse-drawn fire engine will give Grand Rapids a better rating in the
lists of the National Underwriters Association remains to be seen. Before the addition of the last (motorized)
apparatus it was rated first class with only 120 demerits giving the department 87.4 percent perfect fire
protection. That is an enviable reputation for a wooden roofed city as cold as Grand Rapids is for four months
of the year.
The men of Engine House #7 are enthusiastic over the acquisition of the new apparatus, a 1921 American LaFrance, 750 gpm, triple combination pumper, chiefly because it adds to the efficiency of the company by enabling it to get to the scene of a fire more rapidly and by permitting six men to work the hose lines and ladders where only five were available before. "It is considerably faster getting on the road," said Captain William Spencer in discussing the advantages of the new engine. "Two or three minutes cut from our running time means we can get to the fire that much sooner. Those two or three minutes frequently tell the story. Give them to the fire department, especially in roof fires which are by far the most frequent and the loss will be small, give them to the fire and no one can tell how much damage will result. It is axiomatic among firemen that the first few minutes make the fire. Once at the fire it again is time that counts, the time that it takes the men to get at the fire and combat it effectively."
The new pumper carries a 24 foot extension ladder and a 12 foot roof ladder. It is equipped with a booster
pump attached with a small stream hose to a 60 gallon water tank. "As soon as we get to a fire the water in this
tank is available without waiting for connection to one of the city water mains. More often than not it proves
sufficient to put out the fire without resorting to the big pump and city mains." The new pump, rated at a 750
gallon per minute capacity, threw 840 gallons per minute at its official acceptance test. This compares favorably
with the 600 gpm capacity of the supplanted steam fire engine. It enables six of the seven men of the engine
company to take part in the actual work of handling the hose and ladders as against five out of seven available
when one man was required to hold the horses and one to keep the pump in action.
"It is cheaper, in that it takes the place of two apparatus - a steam fire engine and a combination chemical and hose wagon. Feed for the horses and the fuel required to keep the water in the steamer constantly at the boiling point more than balances the cost of upkeep of the new pumper," said Captain Spencer. "In spite of attempts to keep the steam gauge at a point where a working pressure could be reached during a run to a fire, steam power pumps could never be depended upon to work at maximum capacity as soon as they were connected to the mains. Gas driven pumps pick up their maximum load as soon as they are attached." Only one man at Engine House #7 feels a tinge of regret because of the change. That man is William C. Bremer, who drove the first horse drawn apparatus at Engine House #7 on December 19, 1891, when the company first came into existence. For 30 years he drove continuously without an accident and without a runaway. During the first 20 years of his service "Bill" was the driver of the hose wagon. Ten years ago when a motor driven hose wagon replaced the team of horses, Captain Spencer wanted Bremer to learn to drive it, but "Bill" refused. Instead he asked that he be shifted to the steam fire engine to drive those horses. His request was granted and he became the last regular driver of the last horse drawn Grand Rapids Fire Department apparatus.
Now there are no more horses left for "Bill" to drive. After 30 years his teams are gone never to return. He
and his friends, Ned and Duke, are of the order that has passed. They did their utmost, and a thrilling, romantic
utmost it was - Ned and Duke straining in mighty effort down sleet-covered or snow clad streets, "Bill" holding
them in their course, urging here, restraining there, but ever with one idea in mind, to reach the fire as quickly as
possible. But, the old order changes, and with every change isolated human beings find progress for the good
of the many casts them aside without regard of the individual. Romantic though they were, pathetic as they
now appear, other drivers in other cities have gone the way that "Bill" now goes. Other horses have preceded
Ned and Duke to garbage wagon hauling. Meanwhile, "Bill", now a pipeman on Engine #7, gradually is
recovering from the blow. For two days after his pets had left he spoke to none of his company mates. "Bill"
having served faithfully for 30 years can now retire on a pension when he pleases.
A few steam fire engines were still in the fire department as late as 1923 but were used only in reserve. Horses were not needed as these steamers had been converted to (electric or gasoline tractor driven).
The following are examples of tractor driven and electric driven fire apparatus used in the Grand Rapids Fire Department as well as one of the last pictures of Steamer #7 (horse drawn) and the new Engine #7, triple combination, American LaFrance 750 gpm pumper.
Robert Imhoff, Retired Captain - Apparatus Division